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Children holding Russian and Chinese flags walk ahead of a welcoming ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

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Xi and Putin highlight their friendship and cooperation on energy and other issues in Beijing visit

Xi and Putin highlight their friendship and cooperation on energy and other issues in Beijing visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised his close ties with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and said their countries are close partners in trade and international affairs as they opened bilateral talks Wednesday on his trip to Beijing. Xi welcomed Putin with a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People only days after meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Xi and Putin were set to focus on energy and security as well as their overall ties. China became Russia’s top trading partner following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. It also is the top customer for Russian oil and gas supplies, and Moscow expects the war in Iran to increase the demand.